The Mack Brown-to-North Carolina rumors are heating up to the point he's reportedly already beginning to consider a staff.

Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman reported Brown could attempt to hire Gene Chizik as his defensive coordinator and Kliff Kingsbury as his offensive coordinator. Texas Tech fired Kingsbury as its head coach Sunday, while Chizik last served as UNC's defensive coordinator from 2015 to 2016.

Kingsbury's tenure at Texas Tech was undone by his inability to develop a defensive presence. While the Red Raiders had a prolific offense throughout his time as coach, the program ranked in the bottom half of college football in each of his six seasons.

Chizik was Auburn's head coach from 2009 to 2012, winning the 2010 national championship but struggling in his other three seasons. He won multiple Coach of the Year honors in 2010. The 56-year-old also spent two years at Iowa State, going 5-19.

Chizik has remained in Auburn with his family and resigned at UNC to be closer to them, so it's unclear what level of interest he has in returning to football.

Brown, 67, was the head coach at Texas from 1998 to 2013 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame earlier this year. The Longhorns went 158-48 during his tenure and won the 2005 national title.

Prior to his stint at Texas, Brown was North Carolina's head coach from 1988 to 1997.